A year after a surprising run to the Elite Eight, the Clemson Tigers want to do it again. 

Thursday, they will take on McNeese State in the first round of the Midwest Regional in Providence, R.I. Tipoff is set for 2:15 Lake Charles time.

Last year’s ride to a regional final from the six-seed was Clemson’s first since 1980. Now, the Tigers are seeded fifth and ranked 12th in this week’s AP poll.

“They are a very good team, big and physical,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade, who graduated from Clemson. “This will be a tough game for us, but we are excited for the opportunity we are getting.”

Bothteams are 27-6, the most wins in Clemson history. The Tigers are 14-14 in NCAA Tournament play, with two Elite Eight runs and five trips tothe Sweet 16, while the Cowboys are 0-3.

They finished second in the league with an 18-2 record, their best league finish since 1990.

Last year,the Tigers beat No. 11 New Mexico, No. 3 Baylor, and No. 2 Arizona before losing to top-seeded Alabama in the West Regional Final.

McNeese fell to Gonzaga in the first round of the Midwest Regional. Clemson is 7-7 all-time in the first round.

This year, they handed Duke its only loss in ACC play. 

Like McNeese, which has won 22 of its last 23 games, the Tigers will enter the tournament rolling. They have won 18 of their previous 21 despite falling in the ACC semifinals to Louisville last Friday.

Last year, guard Chase Hunter led the Tigers through the tournament, averaging just over 17 points a game. Hunter leads four Tigers who score in double figures. 

The 6-foot-4 graduate guard is scoring at a 16.4 clip this season and was an All-ACC first-team selection. Six-eleven forward Ian Schieffelin, who was picked for the second team, averages almost a double-double at 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. 

Guard Jaeden Zackery was selected to the league’s All-Defensive team.

“They have a lot of talented players,” said Wade. “Hunter can really play and score. He can shoot and get to the basket. Schieffelin is tough on the inside and can also shoot.”

The Tigers will be without guard Dillon Hunter, Chase’s brother, who broke his hand during the ACC tournament. Hunter averaged 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1,9 assists a game.

“I don’t think it’s good,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said. “Obviously, it’s a little of an emotional letdown for your team when we’re playing so hard to get to this time of year.”

The Tigers are looking for another long tourney journey, but it won’t be as big a surprise if they do it this year.